Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I was unable to attend to several votes today. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall 347; ``nay'' on rollcall 348; ``nay'' on rollcall 349; ``nay'' on rollcall 350; ``aye'' on rollcall 351; ``aye'' on rollcall 352; ``aye'' on rollcall 353 and ``aye'' on rollcall 354.

Madam Speaker, I was unable to attend to several votes today. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on the Republican Motion to Instruct Conferees on H.R. 4173; ``aye'' on final passage of H. Res. 1330; ``aye'' on final passage of H.R. 5278; and ``aye'' on final passage of H.R. 5133.

Mr. Speaker, I was not able to attend to several votes today. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on final passage of H.R. 1061, and ``aye'' on final passage of H. Res. 518.

Madam Speaker, I was unable to attend to several votes today. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on final passage of H. Res. 1347, ``aye'' on final passage of H. Res. 1385; ``aye'' on final passage of H. Res. 1316, and ``aye'' on final passage of H. Res. 1169.

Madam Speaker, I was unable to attend to several votes today. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on final passage of H.R. 5145, ``aye'' on final passage of H. Res. 1258, ``aye'' on final passage of H. Res. 1382; ``aye'' on final passage of H. Res. 584; ``aye'' on final passage of H.R. 3885; ``aye'' on final passage of Senate Amendments to H.R. 2711; ``aye'' on final passage of H. Res. 1189; and ``aye'' on final passage of H. Res. 1172.

Madam Speaker, I voted today in opposition to H.R. 5146, Blocking the Cost of Living Adjustment for Congress. This legislation was introduced today, had no hearings, was not considered for a mark-up, and was brought to the floor of the House under an expedited procedure that would not allow for any amendments nor its full and complete consideration. I oppose this bill because Congress has established a fair system to regulate the pay of Members of Congress. This bill, by denying a reasonable and fair cost of living increase for Members of Congress, casts a wider chill on the respect and value that we give to all public servants.

Under Article I, Section Six of the U.S. Constitution, Congress is to determine its own pay. Historically, Congress has not frequently raised their pay. According to the Congressional Research Service, between 1789 through 1968--(179 years)--Congress raised their pay only 22 times. Stand-alone legislation was used to increase Congress' pay in 1982, 1983, 1989 and 1991, and in 1989, an automatic annual adjustment was used. This automatic annual adjustment was to eliminate the need for significant boosts in the salaries of Members of Congress. The cost of living increase for Members of Congress is not to exceed the rate given for any and all other federal employees. This is a fair and equitable system.

The Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009 included a freeze on the salaries of Members of Congress. I supported this measure. I supported the cost of living adjustment freeze then, because the bill had been through the legislative process. I could measure the benefits of the overall bill for the people of the 13th Congressional District of Michigan and America. That is not true of H.R. 5146.

I also oppose this bill because this bill denigrates public service and the institution of Congress. Like all other public servants, Members of Congress work for the people of this country. In order to serve the people of America, Members of Congress must establish two residences and fly between Washington, DC, and our homes almost every week. Members of Congress spend hours, days and sometimes weeks away from our homes working for 600,000 or more constituents in our districts. We travel throughout the world to investigate and understand how America can make a positive difference.

I am proud of the tremendous responsibility it takes to be a public servant as a Member of Congress. I am honored and humbled by the faith that the people of the 13th Congressional District of Michigan have in my service to them. In voting against this bill, I am saying loud and clear that we should value the hard work and dedication of all of our public servants. We work hard each and every day to ensure that America is safe, strong and the best place in the world for all Americans. I value this hallowed and great institution called the U.S. House of Representatives. If we, as Members of Congress, do not stand up for ourselves, how can we stand up for the hundreds of thousands of other public servants who look to us as leaders?

I am proud to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. I am honored and proud to be a public servant. Congress established a fair and equitable way to automatically compensate the hard and difficult work of Members of Congress. I supported previous legislation denying the automatic pay raise because that bill went through regular order and contained many provisions important to the people of the 13th Congressional District and America. This bill was not considered under the regular rules of the House. This bill says that we do not value the work of America's public servants.

Mr. Speaker, I was unable to attend to several votes today. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on the Motion to Recommit; ``nay'' on passage of H.R. 2499.

Mr. Speaker, how can you repeal a law that helps millions of Americans for better health care? The repeal Republicans are once again off base and not right in their assumptions.

Millions of Americans will benefit from the new health care bill. You and your doctor will determine your care and not the insurance companies. Small businesses with 50 employees or less will get tax credits to help them pay their premiums. So the millions of people who work in small businesses can now have health care.

Your children who are graduating from college and find themselves with no job will be able to stay on your health care until age 26.

These were the same rumblings they had in 1965 with Medicare, health care for over 44 million seniors. Medicare today is one of the best programs for health care for seniors, and this bill extends its lifetime almost a decade. Social Security, passed in 1934, is one of the most successful programs we have.

It is a good bill. The repeal Republicans are wrong again.

Madam Speaker, I was unable to attend to several votes today. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on final passage of H.R. 4543, ``aye'' on final passage of H. Res. 1103, and ``aye'' on final passage of H.R. 4861.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank the gentleman for yielding us the additional time. I appreciate it very much.

Madam Speaker, I have known the honorable Dorothy Irene Height for many years. This last weekend, several of us went to Bennett College for Women in Greensboro, North Carolina.

I was a speaker at the Heights of Excellence Scholarship Luncheon for the young women who go to that university. It was quite an honor for us to pay homage to Dr. Height--quiet, courageous. Just imagine 70 years ago when she stepped out as a woman, working with leaders--speaking, giving, organizing, and teaching. Here we are, in 2010, wanting to be like Dorothy Irene Height.

I want to honor former Secretary Alexis Herman, who served as her adopted daughter and who was with her for all of these years as we have served here in Washington.

I also honor Dr. Barbara Skinner, who worked tirelessly and who surrounded Dr. Height in prayer for the last 3 weeks, 24 hours a day.

Thank you, my sisters. Let us rise up and have the strength that Dr. Height showed each of us.

Dr. Height, you are in all of us, and as we go forward as women--as Congresswomen, as mothers--and as we raise the young children to be future Dr. Heights, just know that the height of excellence will remain in each of us.

Rest in peace, our dear, beloved mother. Join Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubman, and the others who have gone before.

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably absent for two votes today. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on final passage of H. Res. 1257 and ``aye'' on final passage of H. Res. 1271.

Mr. Speaker, Michigan, and our Nation, have faced, and continues to weather, high unemployment. Our businesses struggle with a lack of access to capital. Michiganders have had to face significant challenges that have tested our faith and our will. Michiganders, and all Americans, have usually responded with the grit, the effort, and the will that is evidence of the uniquely American ``can do'' spirit. Despite that spirit, many regions of our Nation desire and need help. The 13th Congressional District of Michigan is one of those areas. A portion of that help is in this bill, H.R. 4899, the Disaster Relief and Summer Jobs Act of 2010. Although I did not support an earlier jobs bill because it provided tax cuts, not funding, to our Nation's small businesses, I support this bill.

This legislation is not perfect. While it provides summer jobs to our Nation's youth, the money goes to the states before it goes to cities, counties and non-profit agencies. The problem? Our states are broke. Our states are desperate to balance their budgets. Our states need these funds as revenues from a once abundant housing market has evaporated. So while it is not the fault of our states, it is my desire to get these jobs created as fast as possible.

While I support H.R. 4899, I will continue to fight toward the enactment of a program similar to the Comprehensive Employment Training Act (CETA) program, a program that proved that it could reduce the unemployment rate and train people for short- and long-term jobs and careers. Funding for this program went directly from the Federal Government to cities, counties and non-profit organizations to get individuals trained and back to work.

This bill is great news for three reasons. One, this bill provides disaster relief. Many regions of our Nation faced record snowfalls, major floods, and other natural disasters. We still have not completely fulfilled our promise to the people of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Not only will this $5.1 billion disaster aid package help these communities rebuild their homes, infrastructure and local economies, it will also take steps to protect them from future disasters.

Two, this bill provides funding for the summer jobs program. As our Nation begins the long recovery from the deepest economic crisis since the Great Depression, a summer job is more than just an opportunity for our Nation's youth to be exposed to possible career paths. It is often a matter of survival, of life and death. This bill has $600 million, fully offset, to support over 300,000 jobs for youth ages 16 to 24 through summer employment programs. This age group has some of the highest unemployment levels, 25 percent for those aged 16 to 19. This funding will allow local Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs) to expand successful summer jobs programs that were funded in the Recovery Act.

Three, this bill provides access to capital for our Nation's small businesses, our Nation's largest employer. There will be $60 million in the bill, that is fully offset, to extend the Recovery Act small business lending program for another month. That program eliminated the fees normally charged for loans through the Small Business Administration 7(a) and 504 loan programs and increased the government guarantees on 7(a) loans from 75 percent to 90 percent. Since its creation, the program has supported nearly $23 billion in small, business lending, which helped to create or retain over 560,000 jobs.

This bill is not only fiscally responsible, but it is needed and necessary. I am proud to support this bill, and look forward to working with my colleagues as we continue to enact legislation that will address the challenge of our Nation's astronomically high unemployment rate, provide capital to our Nation's businesses, and ensure that our economy survives and thrives. The families of America are counting on Congress to do what is needed to continue to make America great.

Mr. Speaker, I was unable to attend to several votes today. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall No. 178; ``aye'' on rollcall No. 179; ``aye'' on rollcall No. 180; ``nay'' on rollcall No. 181; ``aye'' on rollcall No. 182; ``aye'' on rollcall No. 183; ``aye'' on rollcall No. 184; ``aye'' on rollcall No. 185, and ``aye'' on rollcall No. 186.

Mr. Speaker, I was unable to attend several votes today. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on final passage of H.R. 4810 and ``aye'' on final passage of H.R. 4667.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4872, the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act. I urge all my colleagues to support this bill because it will improve the accessibility and affordability of health care for millions of Americans.

Today, there are more than 44 million Americans who lack health care insurance. We must ensure that the needs of these Americans are met. This bill will help us begin to do just that.

While we in Congress have deliberated and debated the costs, challenges, and consequences of health care reform, millions of Americans continue to sacrifice, struggle, and suffer. Hundreds of people have sent me letters and e-mails, called and visited my office, and participated in town hall meetings to express their opinions. The majority of my constituents want and need health care reform. Many are unemployed and struggling to maintain their health care insurance while trying to make sure that there is food on the table, that they have shelter, and that their lights, gas, and water are on. Others are dealing with increases in health care premiums that continue to rise at the will of insurance companies. Still others are trying to get adequate treatment for serious illnesses and to pay for the medicines that can help them.

I am a strong supporter of the single payer health care plan. I also support a strong public option. I support this bill because it begins the process of universal health care coverage for all Americans.

This measure expands coverage to 32 million more people, or more than 95% of Americans, while lowering health care costs over the long term. It prevents insurance companies from discriminating based on pre- existing conditions, health status, and gender. It creates health insurance exchanges--competitive marketplaces where individuals and small businesses can buy affordable health care coverage--and offers premium tax credits and cost-sharing to low and middle income Americans, providing families and small businesses with the largest tax cut for health care in history. It also invests in Community Health Centers to expand access to health care in communities where it is needed most. The bill also empowers the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and state insurance commissioners to conduct annual reviews of new plans demanding unjustified, egregious premium increases.

This bill puts patients and doctors in charge of their health care-- not health insurance companies. Children can no longer be discriminated against because of preexisting conditions. Seniors will no longer have to pay deductibles and co-pays. There will be free mandatory preventive health care provided for all under all health care plans. Plus, there will be a ban on lifetime coverage limits under this bill.

The bill cuts taxes to small businesses to help small employers pay for health care coverage for their employees. Small businesses will have tax credits and vouchers so as to be able to afford health care coverage for their employees.

The bill makes key investments in Medicaid and children's health. It expands eligibility for Medicaid to include all non-elderly Americans with income below 133% of the Federal Poverty Level and provides fair assistance to states to help cover the costs of these new Medicaid populations. The measure also maintains current funding levels for the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) through fiscal year 2015 and increases payments to primary care doctors in Medicaid.

The Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act strengthens Medicare. It adds at least nine years to the solvency of the Medicare Hospital Insurance Fund, fills the Medicare prescription drug donut hole, improves Medicare payments for primary care, and reduces overpayments to private Medicare Advantage plans. It also provides new, free annual wellness visits; eliminates out-of- pocket copayments for preventive benefits under Medicare, such as cancer and diabetes screenings; and provides better chronic care, with doctors collaborating to provide patient-centered care for the 80% of older Americans who have at least one chronic medical condition, such as high blood pressure or diabetes. The bill also encourages reimbursing health care providers on the basis of volume instead of value by including a number of proposals aimed at moving away from the ``a la carte'' Medicare fee-for-service system toward paying for quality and value, while reducing costs for America's seniors.

This legislation reins in the abuse by health insurance companies of arbitrarily increasing premiums and stops insurance companies from dropping individuals from policies when people get sick and need health care insurance. If you change or lose your job, you will still have health care coverage. When you enter a hospital, you and your family can rest assured, knowing that your policy will cover the costs associated with your health care.

Last, this legislation demonstrates fiscal sensibility and responsibility. It will reduce the deficit by $138 billion over the next decade, with an additional $1.2 trillion in additional deficit reduction in the following decade. The bill tightens current health tax incentives, collects industry fees, institutes modest excise taxes, and slightly increases the Medicare Hospital Insurance tax for individuals who earn more than $200,000 and couples who earn more than $250,000. It includes a fee on insurance companies that sell high cost health insurance plans to promote smarter, more cost-effective health coverage choices and changes health care tax incentives by increasing penalties on nonqualified distributions from health savings accounts, capping federal saving account contributions, and standardizing the definition of qualified medical expenses. The cost of health care reform under this legislation is fully paid for, in large part, by eliminating waste, fraud, abuse, and excessive profits for private insurers.

As Democrats promised the American people, this bill is fully paid for. This legislation is the single largest deficit reduction tool in the history of our country. It is not balanced on the backs of our children and our grandchildren.

My family and my faith provide the foundation for my commitment to service. I am honored and humbled to represent the people of the 13th Congressional District. As Members of Congress, we serve others. Through this service, we often provide people with the tools and resources they want and need. Our service not only changes us for the better by giving our lives meaning and fulfillment, but it also creates positive change in the lives of others. Like a raindrop in a river, our service creates ripples that leave an indelible impact on all those it touches.

Today, we will make history by finishing what many Congresses before us started. The debate has gone on long enough. The American people want action. We must reject the status quo. We must stand up and do what is right. We must be a voice for the voiceless, give hope to the hopeless, and provide help to the helpless by supporting health care reform now.

Let us be the light in the darkness by voting in support of the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act. It will give much needed assistance to millions of Americans by making health care affordable for the middle class, providing security for our seniors, and guaranteeing access to health insurance for the uninsured. It is common sense for the common good, and I urge all my colleagues to vote yes on this historic measure.